Fibromyalgia

Specialties Emergency

Published

What are your opinions, nurses? Is Fibromyalgia a justified condition or just a basket term ? I am interested in your feedback. It seems like we see a large number of patients (usually women) with "fibromyalgia" and the numbers are getting larger and larger.

I even had a patient tell me that fibromyalgia patients were predisposed to trigeminal neuralgia. :eek:

I love these "fashionable" diagnoses

Fibromyalgia

Chronic fatigue (Epstein Roseanne barr)

Hypoglycemia (not diabetes)

Mitral valve prolapse

I knew I was in trouble in the ER when a young woman came in and listed ALL of these as her past history.

Aaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhh!

You know,

I'm not sure that I would agree with "fashionable" diagnoses.

Like I said before, I think the auto-immunes are poorly misunderstood.

It wasn't all that long ago that people though HIV could be caught by breathing the same air. And women didn't have MIs.

I don't think anyone would doubt MVP-it does show up on an echo.

And those people who have arrythmias secondary to it...it's hard to "fake" SVT.

It is equally difficult to be "fashionably" hypoglycemic...blood sugar "is what it is"

I agree that some people seem to "have it all" and are "disabled" by it. But I think that is more a coping deficit rather than erroneous diagnoses. I do sympathize with people who are truly suffering with any of these disorders.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Assisted Living nursing, LTC/SNF nursing.
there is a pretty active fibro board on the forum i am normally at. lots of good info there.

hi sunny, i was wondering if you could post or pm the forum you go to so i can research this more. i'm tied up in the adn/preceptorship part of my program and don't have alot of time to research but think this would be a good place to start.

my mil has ra/fm. she doesn't complain but is pretty much incompacitated by this. any med's she has taken eventually gives her gi upset and she can't take them her rheum. doc has pretty much said he can't help her anymore. :o

anyway, i would appreciate if you would let me know the site so i can look further into it since forums are so knowledge enhancing (just like all-nurses is!) thanks!

iowakaren

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.

There are some fashionable Dxs

usually fostered by News reporters

There are the old reliable Dxs

time tested

and approved for getting narcotics

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have 2 views on the FM subject:

1. I do believe that some people do suffer from true pain and that pain can be relieved in a variety of ways including conventional and holistic approaches.

2. I remember being 18 and a spine specialist telling me after a car accident I had FM and handing me a brochure and telling me "Good Luck, join a support group." Right then, I thought, screw that, this depression sucks, being overweight and a couch potato sucks, and this pain sucks. I do not have this frickin' FM lol. So I changed my life.

Point being...in some ways I think FM and obesity are a lot alike in the mindset of this: You are not going to lose that excess baggage (ie pain or weight) until you really want to and you make up your mind to make lifestyle changes. Some people never get there, and therefore, may always suffer, mentally and physically.

Life is what you make it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.

when in doubt play golf

Up Vote Up Vote ×

i triaged a pt today that c/o neurofibromytosis. is there such a thing?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics/Oncology/Psych/College Health.
i triaged a pt today that c/o neurofibromytosis. is there such a thing?

I believe that's what used to be called "Elephant man's disease" - real.

Edited to add: link

http://www.nf.org/what_is_nf/

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Nursing Advanced Practice.
i triaged a pt today that c/o neurofibromytosis. is there such a thing?

Neurofibromatosis (NF) is the most common neurocutaneous sundrome. NF is subdivided into NF1 and NF2. Autosomal dominant.

NF1 = Cafe-au-lait spots, neurobibromata(connective tissue tumor), inguinal freckles,, bone cortex thinning.

NF2 = Cranial nerve 8 mass and meningioma, glioma, schwanoma.

Old name = Elephant man's Disease

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg/Ortho/HH/Radiology-Now Retired.

As someone who has suffered, literally, for the past 7-8 years with Fibromyalgia, may I please join this debate, and hopefully, enlighten some of you folk who appear to be EXTREMELY sceptical. *note: I use Australian spelling*! LOL

Firstly; "Never judge another man/woman, until you walk a mile in their shoes"!

Secondly; FMS, (Fibromyalgia Syndrome), and CFS, (Chronic Fatigue syndrome), are two entirely DIFFERENT syndromes. While FMS and CFS do have similar symptoms, and indeed, some of them overlap, the two conditions are definately NOT one & the same.

May I draw your attention to the following in the hope it may either help, enlighten, educate, inform.......

http://www.fms-help.com/tips.htm

http://www.fmnetnews.com

http://www.sover.net/~devstar/fmsdef.htm

While I have no intention of defending my own personal situation to anyone, I will tell you that self help can & does, ensure a sufferer is able to live with this insidious condition. There's not really a lot that cures it, but it can be alleviated & made bearable, (sort of!).

Exposure to highly toxic chemicals several years ago has been identified as the root cause of my contracting this condition. It IS real, it DOES exist, and research, (here in Australia anyway), is finding substantive causes, linked to the brain.

I wish all those who suffer with this condition the very best in your quest for a pain free existence. Hang in there, don't give up, and do all in your power to remain positive. Push past the pain, if you can, keep active.

To those of you who are judge & jury......as stated above......

"NEVER JUDGE ANOTHER MAN/WOMAN UNTIL YOU'VE WALKED A MILE IN THEIR SHOES"!

I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO RESEARCH THIS CONDITION before making ill-informed comments/ judgements.

Without Prejudice,

Best Wishes from "down Under",

Grace

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.

Grace

FM might actually be a problem for some. But not all.

I was at triage last night and my first 6 pts all stated they had FM. No wonder we tend to frown on it. Here it seems to be a fashionable thing to have like Adult ADD.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Room/corrections.
Grace

FM might actually be a problem for some. But not all.

I was at triage last night and my first 6 pts all stated they had FM. No wonder we tend to frown on it. Here it seems to be a fashionable thing to have like Adult ADD.

here too, Tom..... hey! last week I triaged a patient with FM AND RSD! what kind of hell is that???? :rotfl: :rotfl: I am sorry for her, its not really funny, but its kind of like being allergic to sneezing and living in a pepper factory!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.

Had a pt with a history of FM

on allergies he stated

Police Pepper Spray

wonder how he found that one out

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment